Sectional collapsible pressing board



May 12, 1953 J.'S. BUCHANAN SECTIONAL COLLAPSIBLE PRESSING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1950 INVENTOR. {ff/Mine J. fiuefianan 7' R M y 12, 1953 J. 5. BUCHANAN 2, 37,919

SECTIONAL COLLAPSIBLE PRESSING BOARD Filed June 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ..I4 24 4g 7%? 25 15 10' ;&

BY Jose/11am A? Buakanaw WJM May 12, 1953 J. 8. BUCHANAN SECTIONAL COLLAPSIBLE PRESSING BOARD s sheets-sh'eet 5 Filed June 28, 1950 Patented May 12, 1953 SECTIONAL COLLAPSIBLE PRESSING BOARD Josephine S. Buchanan, Sharon, Conn.

Application J unc 28, 1950, Serial No. 170,837

2 Claims. (01. 38-138) This invention relates to pressing boards and is more particularly directed to pressing boards which may be collapsed for convenience in carrying or storing when they are not in use.

In the small modern apartment or hotel room,

in which space is very limited, it is desirable to dispense with the usual rigid pressing or ironing board and its unstable supporting leg structure, and to provide a pressing surface or board which is collapsible and which may be conveniently stored or readily carried when traveling. Therefore, it is an important object of this invention to provide a device which may be readily collapsed by telescoping the members, form'- ing the pressing surface; so that they occupy a minimum of space and which, when in the open or extended position, will provide arigid pressing surface.

Another object is to provide a telescoping ironing or pressing board" which may be "used as a container for a traveling iron and which in turn may be contained in a pressing board cover which is designed to act as a carrying case for the collapsed pressing board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a telescoping pressing board which is adapted to be supported at one end so as to permit free access to the underside of the pressing surface throughout its entire length so that ladies skirts or other similar tubular garments may be readily pressed thereon.

The invention contemplates an apparatus having two or more telescoping members which, when extended and placed in side-by-side relationship provide a planar pressing surface, one member being adapted to telescope beneath another member, guideways being provided on the other member to guide the smaller member into the telescoped relationship. Supporting means for the pressing board are fixed below the guideways provided on the larger of the-two members. In addition to the vertical supports associated with the supporting structure, horizontally extending footing members may be affixed to the upright sections which, when extended, are substantially coextensive with the extended planar pressing surface. The various details of the invention in several forms will be described more fully in connection with the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side View, partly in section, of one form of the invention in the fully extended position;

Fig. 2 is a viewof the underside of the de vice taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l, with parts cut away;'

supporting members having telescoping is defined by parallel edges 22.

-of the member ll. .55

Fig. 3 is a side view, of the form shown in Fig. l, in the collapsed or telescoped position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional end View taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3, with parts cut away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of cover for the pressing surface;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 positioned for encasement in an alternate form of pressing cover which may be alternately utilized as a carrying case for the device; I

Fig, "7 is a perspective view of form of the invention; v

Fig. -8 isa perspective View of a detachable iron supporting member for assembly with the device shown in Figs. 1 -4 and 6;

Figs.- 9 and 10 are perspective views showing alternate types of supporting structures; Fig. 9 also shows a sleeve pressing board extension; and

Fig. 11 is a side view of the form of invention shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1-4 and 6 showing one form of the invention, the planar pressing surface is formed by members l0, H and i2 which may be made of any suitable thin lightweight material, such as sheet metal. The member it has a flat upper surface l3, which is in part defined by parallel edges l4 and a transverse edge it which is at right angles to the parallel edges M. Skirt portions ll depend from the parallel side edges l4 and are provided with return ledges it which an alternate are parallel to and beneath the underside of the flat surface l3.

Member H has a flat upper surface 2! which The distance between the parallel edges of the surface 25 is slightly less than between the parallel edges id of the flat surface 13. The lengthwise dimension of the flat surface 21 is defined by the transverse edges 24 and 25 which are parallel to each other and which are at right angles to the longitudinal parallel edges 22. Skirt portions 2% depend from the longitudinal parallel edges 22.

Member It includes a flat upper surface 28 having a straight transverse edge 29 and two longi-- tudinal edges 36 which are parallel to each other and at right angles to the transverse edge 29, adjacent the said edge 29 and for a portion of their length. However, the edges 30 gradually converge to. define a curved end portion 32 of the ilat upper surface 28. The width of the flat surface 28 between the longitudinal edges 36 is somewhat less than thev width of the flat surface 2! Skirt. portions. 33 depend from the longitudinal edges 30 of the member I 2.

The skirt portions l! are provided with grooved guideways The member H is provided with a plate 3i fixed, by suitable means, such as welding, to the underside of the flat surface 2| adjacent the transverse edge 24 and extending outwardly therefrom and parallel to the fiat member surface 2E. Projections 38 extend outwardly from the ends of the plate '31 (as shown in Figs. 2 and i) *alndare adapted to :be received inithe grooved guideways 35 "of the "member if]. The guideways 35 are provided with a lower track which extends the length of the skirt portions i i, a short parallel upper track *4! adjacent the transverse edge I5, and a connecting track 42 between said upper and lower tracks. The projections 3B are adapted to movealo'ng"the'lower.

track when the member i is imoved outrun-telescoping relation with the member 10 and .is shifted to the upper track 4| through mesonnecting track 42 to position the upper surface 2| of 'meniberi in"atic-planar relationshipwith the upper surface I o'f 'member i l lL the transverseedges l6 and 24 of the respecnv fiatisurfaces l3 and 2 I "being in #:tbuttihg-side-by-dde relationship and the members?! bearii ig against the underside of thesurf-ace'l fi toiprovide a rigid support betweenthemeznbers l fi and H. When the member H is in the "telescoping relationto the member I t, i. e. with the projections 3 a'mo'ving along the lower tra'ck ofti-ie' 'guidei'vay 35, the

lower edges 43 of the skirt portions 26 are sup- 12 is movedoutwardlyfrom the telescoping re1a tion with mem'ber'l l and the projections 3T are 'noved I along'the lower t'raclc of the guideways '45 through the conn'ectin'g track-Stand ba'okalong the upper traclrfii, thetransverse-edges "E B' an'd 29 of the respective "flatsurfaces ZI and ii'fl are c brought into "abutting si'de by-side relationship to each other, the upper surface of 'the'e'xt'ension of the plate #8 isincorit'act'vvith the-underside or" the surface 2] to provides, rigid connection between the members l-l-and E-Z.

A supporting' structure designated generally as -53 includes parallel 'arinsfill fixed respectively to the undersides of the-ledges Iii o'nthef'skirt portions ll of the member ID. 'The parallel arms 5d curve downwardly to' define two upright supporting members-56 which'may be of any'desired height depending upon the manner 'in"which it is determined to 'use the pressing board. In the form shown in the figures, thesupp'orting membars 55 'are'relatively'short so as to-add to the 'compactnessof the device. In this form it is contemplated thatthe pressing board will be placed upon thebroadsurface-of apiece of'furniture to bring the pressin surface to a suitable height "for convenient use.

iche upright-supporting members '56, in turn,

-curve =inwmdlytto form suitable footing menib'ers 58 "which are =adaptedto rest upon the fi'oor "or the top 'of a ipiece of furniture, depending upon the heightof'the upright supporting members 56.

The projections- 47 iii) "are also tubular in form.

are slidably disposed in slots 66 provided in the footing members 58. The outer surfaces of the "'extensionsfiii slidably engage the inner surfaces 85 oithamembers-Ed The projections 55 in the slots 56 prevent the complete withdrawal of the said-extensions E9. Projections 64- on the arms 63 are slida'bly disposed in slots 59 provided in the eatensionlmembers L t to prevent'the withdrawal orthe arms 53 froin' ti'ie m'embers 88.

"When the i-members -I 1 and t2 are-telesco es within the "member H1 and the ext'ensio'n aihis so, '63 are telescoped 1 within the i footing inemhers 58,:asshowniniFigs. 3,4' an':l 6, it will be appreciated'that the pressing board occupies-a materially"reduced space'than the ordinary type of rigid board. In order to'exte'nd the board and the supporting structure -foruse, the opcrator may grasp the-transverse arm-'62 and' dra'w it out until the "extensionmeinhers are their iully extendedpositionasshown in Figs. lend-2. ihereaiter, the member II is 'pulled outwardly from the member 18, and, when the projections 38 movin in the lower tracks of the gum-aways reach the end of said tracks, adjacent :the transverse edge E6 of the member iiL the opei ater lifts themembe'r Ii upwardly sothat projections '38 move along the connecting tracks 42 torraise the surfaceZi into'corplanar relationship with the surface 13. Thereafter, the operator pushes themember I! toward theine'mber it so that the projections :38 move baokwariily along the-tracks '41 causing the transverse' e'dges '56 and 2 to be brought intoabutting relation and to bring the supporting plate into position on=the underside of the surface I3. Thereafter,

the-member i2 is moved outwardly soar, to be positioned in co-planar relationship with the other two members in the same man'n'er as member H was moved into abutting co-planarrelationship with the member H3. Suitable locking means may be provided to maintain the transverse edges of therespectivemembers from"moving out of abutting relationship once they have been placed'in such position. One practical look- "ing means may be provided'by the ironing board cover, as will be more fully discussed below.

Th perforations 88 provided in the fiat surfaces of the members id, H and I2 aretopermit the escape of steam from the ironing surface when the board is in use.

With the'supporting'structure in'the extended position, it will be noted thatthe footingme'rhbers and their associated extensions are substantially coextensive with the pressing surface and thereby provide a cantilever supporting for 'thepressing surface, which is particularly desirable for 'it leaves the entire "underside of the iapressing surface unobstructed, i so that the skirts and other-similar garments may be'slipped over the ironing board and drawn the full le'ngth thereon.

-It is contemplated "that the pressing surface will be covered with an ironing cover of suitable fabric. A type of ironing cover which has been found particularly desirable is illustrated in Fig. 6. The cover 69 may be of padded muslin or other material, and, as shown, is adapted to serve the dual purpose of a pressing cover for use withthe extended pressing surface formed by the members [0, It and i2, and also as a carrying kit for the'pressing board when it is in its collapsed condition. The portion 10 of the cover is in the form of an envelope closed at the end '14 and along the sides 86 and having an opening adjacent the end 16. The portion "i is adapted to be slipped over the pressing surface of the extended members II], I] and IE to envelop the top and bottom surfaces of the board. The flap portions H and 12 are adapted to be drawn around the underside of the pressing surface, and to be clasped together to retain the cover in position on the board. Fastening means such as snap fasteners l5, may be provided on both sides of the open end 16 of the ironing cover to close the envelope I0 over the end of the board remote from the curved end so as to maintain the cover in a stretched condition on the board.

When it is desired to enclose the collapsed pressing board in the ironing cover, the board is placed upon the pressing surface of the ironing cover in central position, as shown in Fig. and the flaps H and 12 folded up and around the upper surface I3 of the member H), the flaps being maintained in the folded position by the complementary snap fasteners 18 and 19. Thereafter the end 16 is drawn over the fastened flaps H and i2 and the end 14 is folded upon the end 716. The ends 14 and 1B are maintained in the folded position by the complementary snap fasteners 80 and 8|. The gussets 82 between the several flaps may be folded inwardly as the flaps or end portions are folded into position so as to close the corners of the kit. The cover, therefore, forms a neat travelling case for containing the pressing board. It may be found desirable to cover the outer surface of the pressing cover with a plastic material, leather, or other suitable wear-resistant or decorative fabric to enhance the appearance of the kit formed by the cover 69.

Fig. illustrates an alternative form of ironing or pressing cover to be utilized with the several forms of the invention and is shown in use in Fig. 1. It consists of a complete envelope 525 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to he slipped over the upper and lower surfaces of the pressing board being drawn over the outer rounded end 32 of the pressing board and brought up to the end H adjacent the supporting structure. Suitable fastening means, such as complementary snap fasteners I26, may be provided to secure the cover in place.

It will be noted that the pressing covers 69 and H25, shown respectively in Figs. 6 and 5, are

drawn over the curved end of the pressing board and are joined at the other end of the board so that the cover is stretched tightly over the pressing surface. In addition to serving adequately as pressing covers, they also provide effective looking means to prevent the several members which form the pressing surface from moving out of abutment with each other While the board is in use, and thus to lock the projections on the. members in the upper tracks of their respective guideways.

It may be found useful to provide a detachable metal plate such as the plate 83, shown in Fig. 8, which has a flat central portion 84 and curved in Figs. 7 and 11.

clamping portions to engage the tubular footing members 58 so as to form a rigid lower surface for the pressing board when it is in the collapsed position ready for travelling. The space between the flat portion of the plate 83 and the undersurface of the telescoped member 12 may then be utilized as a storage space for a travelling iron or other related accessories. When the pressing surface is in use, the plate member 83 may be detached from the footing members 53 and inverted, as shown in Fig. 8, for use as an iron stand.

Figs. 7 and 11 illustrate an alternative form of the invention. The members 90, 9! and 92 form the pressing surface for the device and are adapted to be telescopically interfitted and in the same manner as the form described in Figs. 1-4 and 6 or in any other suitable manner which will provide a means for moving the members into abutting side-by-side relationship to form a substantially planar pressing surface. In addition to the telescoping arrangement, the member 9!] in this form of the invention is provided with a fiat lower surface 93 parallel to and below the upper flat pressing surface of the member 99, the surface 93 being connected to the pressing surface of member by skirt portions 95. The height of the compartment formed by the upper and lower surfaces of the member 96 is sumcient to permit the storage of a folding type travelling iron such illustrated-at 91 which is provided with a folding handle 58. 7

Suitable supporting means may be provided under the extended portion of the device shown Such supporting means may be an integral extension from the skirt of the curved end 99 or may be a folding leg extending from the underside of member 9! or 92. The form of supporting means, illustrated in Figs, 7 and 11, is a pivotally mounted removable supporting member Iilil adapted to be positioned in the hole illl provided in the end 92 of the member 92 shown in dotted line in Fig. 7 and full line in Fig. 11. The supporting member Hm is provided with a hook Hi2 adapted to engage and maintain the member in the hole. The top 33 of the hook member may be slightly flattened or otherwise formed to provide an adequate bearing surface against the hole when the member is in supporting position. An enlarged foot portion. EM may be provided at the end of the supporting member N18 to give greater stability to the support. The pivotal form of supporting member is desirable because it may be displaced easily to permit the insertion or removal of part of a garment such as a skirt under the pressing board. The supporting member returns to its vertical upright supporting position after the passage of the garment and provides adequate support whether a garment is beneath the pressing board or not.

An alternate or supplemental means of sup- 7 porting the board and retaining it in position is porting structure to be used in conjunction with a collapsible ironing surface of the types illusber suriace of the member 33 adjacent its inner end,

-agee'zge re -trated"in Figsil e'andffi. :It is contemplated that such a supporting'istructure will be utilised in a more-or iless'cpermanent location, :such as in the kitchen or bathroom, wherein it is desirable to have a collapsible ironing board. 'The'supporting structure comprised of parallel arms HE? is adapted to be aiiixe'd in a suitable manner, such as by riveting or -'\telding to the underside of the return ledges i ii, the-parallel horizontal arins 6 Hi curving to form uprightsupportin'garnis H4. The arms Hd'areadapted tobe received in' suit able wail brackets Ht having collars ll 8. 'When fit is desiredto use thedevice, which is supported by such a wall bracket, the "pressing surface shown in part at 522i is constructed and-extended 1 in the mannerdescribed'with'regard to Figs. 1-4 and 6.

When'not in usegthe portions of the pressing suriace are telescopically interfitte'd with each other so that the only portionof the pressing-surface extending out from the wall is the fiat surface of'mem'ber 126, corresponding to member'lfl in Figs. li'and 6. This 'fiat'surface may be utilized as a small 'Sh1f,if desired, orthe pressing surface may be withdrawn from the collars H8 or the wall brackets 1 it "by lifting the pressing surface 'inembers upwardly to remove the upright suporting arms 1 ti from the collars. In order to make the collapsed pressing surface more compact, the parallel arms res may beso'mouiited onthe'underside'of the guideshown in Figs. 1-4 and d. The members i230, lill and 32 forma pressingsui'ia'ce when fully extended in the same inann'er as the members Iii, Hand !2 of'Figs. '14 and 6. Ana'dditional extension member is provided'as aslee've pressing board which telescopes Within the member I32. 'A slot i3 1 is provided in the outer curved end 135 of member E32. The member :33 is supported on parallel 'gui'dei'vays 1'36 consisting of ledges depending'from theunder'side ofm'er. A plate liil'm'ay be 'affix'ed to the'upper which abutsagainst the inner side of the curved end ills of the member 32. 'The upper face of plate i3? bears against the underside or the member 32 to provide'sui'table rigidity for the member 33 when it is in the" extended position shown in Fig. -9. lhe pressing cover which is used with the pressing board shown in Fig. 9 may be provided with-a slot, corresponding to the slot Hi l in the curved end I35 of the board, to permit access to the sleeve board I33.

The supporting members i325 may be provided with telescoping extensions similar to those shown in Figs. 1-4 and 6. However, the supporting members 538 may berotatably attached to the underside of the ledges I39 by means of collars ['46 so that the members I 38 may be folded upward when not in use. Suitable locking means may be provided to maintain the legs in the open and folded positions.

It will be appreciated that the several forms of the invention described herein are merely illustrative and that the'structure and the arrangement of parts maybe-changedor modified without departing'from the scope of the invention.

cu e of 8 rvhat is i-cl'aimed is:

l. A telescoping'pressingisurface comprisingat least two members-having relatively thin flat surfaces adapted to be assembled in co-planar side-by-side relationship to provide a pressing surface, the flat surface of the first member being defined in part byparallel edges and a transverse edge at 'right'angles thereto, the flat surof thesecondmember being defined in part by parallel edges slightly closer together than those of the'first member "and a transverse edge at right angles thereto, said tranverse edge of the fiat surface or the second member being adapted to abut the transverse edge of the first member, skirt portions depending from the parallel edges of the first member and having guidewa-ys provided therein, a plate member affixed to the undersidebf "the "flat surface of the secinember adjacent the transverse abutting second member and extending outwardly therefrom parallel to the flat surfaces of said first and second members, projecting guide 'in'eans'provided on said plate member exoutwardly"therefrom at right angles to the parallel edges of said second member, the guide means provided onsaid plate member being bted to engage the guideways on the skirt poi of the first member, each of said guidewe hiding a lower track extending parallel ,t surface of said first member substanne length of said'member and an upper parallel'to said' lower track and spaced t adjacent the transverse edge of the first reber a short distance inwardly along said a connecting track between said upper and lower tracks adjacent the transverse edge of the first member, the guide means on said plate being adapted to move along the lower track of each of said guideways through the connecting track and into the upper track to position. the seccnd member in co-planar side-by-side abutting relationship with the fiat surface of the first member, a pressing cover comprising an envelope closed at one end and along its sides and open at its other end and adapted to be drawn over the outer end of the flat surface of the second member and having fastening means at the open lips of the cover which may be drawn over the end of the fiat surface of the first member remote from the abutting edges of said two members to securely fasten the cover on said pressing surface-and to prevent the guide means associated'wlth the second member from moving out of the upper tracks of the guideways, and support means adapted to support the pressing surface.

2. A telescoping pressing surface comprising at least two members having relatively thin flat surfaces-adapted to be assembled in co-planar side-'by-side relationshipto provide a pressing surface, the flat surface of the first member being define-:1 in part by parallel edges and a transverse edge at right angles thereto, the flat s'irface of the second member being defined in part by parallel edges slightly closer together than those of the first member and a transverse edge at right angles thereto, said transverse edge of the flat surface of the second member being adapted to abut the transverse edge of the first member, skirt'portions depending from the parallel edges of the firstmember and having guideto the undersideof the fiat surface of the second member adjacent the transverse abutting edge 9 of said second member and extending outwardly therefrom parallel to the fiat surfaces of said first and second members, projecting guide means provided on said plate member extending outwardly therefrom at right angles to the parallel edges of said second member, the guide means provided on said plate member being adapted to engage the guideways on the skirt portions of the first member, each of said guideways including a lower track extending parallel to the fiat surface of said first member substantially the length of said member and an upper track parallel to said lower track and spaced therefrom, said upper track extending from a point adjacent the transverse edge of the first member a short distance inwardly along said skirt, a connecting track between said upper and lower tracks adjacent the transverse edge of the first member, the guide means on said plate being adapted to move along the lower tracks of each of said guideways through the connecting track and into the upper track to position the 10 second member in co-planar side-by-side abutting relationship with the flat surface of the first member, and releasable holding means for maintaining the two members in side-by-side relationship along their respective transverse edges.

JOSEPHINE S. BUCHANAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

